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04: Trouble Prince

04: Troubled Prince

Unang araw ko dito ay halos wala akong nakikitang mga tao maliban sa mga inatasan ng majordomo na magsilbi sa akin. Nag-almusal ako sa isang malapad na itim na mesa mag-isa, dahil hindi sumipot ang magaling kong mapapangasawa. Ang sinabi ng majordomo ay maaga itong umalis at hindi sinabi kong saan pupunta.

Sa sobrang boring ng bahay, nababagot akong maglakad kaya't nagpasya akong umalis. Pumunta ako sa bayan para mamasyal at mamili na rin ng mga bagay. Kasama ko si Isla, ang siyang tagasilbi ko galing pa sa Kapital.

Marami ang nakapansin sa akin, subalit walang lumalapit. Of course, in the Capital, people's heads turn whenever I walk. I'm famously known for my exquisite beauty, but even with a transparent veil that covers my face, I'm still gaining a little attention. Buong araw akong namasyal at bumili ng mga bagay-bagay na siyang gusto kong makita sa bahay.

"Isla, may napapansin ka bang nakasunod sa atin?" simpleng tanong ko sa aking maid habang pinagmamasdan ko ang mga kwintas na naka-display.

"Yes, my lady. Kanina pa po siya sumusunod sa atin. Sa katunayan, simula po ng umalis tayo sa bahay," agad siyang sagot habang sabay namin tinitingnan ang mga display. "Gusto niyo po bang umuwi na?"

Hindi ako nagsasalita pero alam ni Isla ang ibig sabihin ng pag-tahimik ko. Umalis kami sa tindahan at tinungo ang karwahe, bago pa man ako sumakay ay dinapoan ko ng tingin ang isang pigura na agad rin nagtago ng mapansin niya akong nakatingin sa gawi niya.

Joaquin. I don't think the Prince wants to know his future wife's movement through his personal assistant and not himself. With that thought, I grin escaped my lips before I entered the carriage and the coachman directed the horse back to the castle.

We arrived back home. A few maids greeted my arrival, but it was the end of it. I'm still not the wife of the young master until the blue moon, which will be two weeks from now on. The blue moon happens every five years, and it is believed that if two people marry under the beam of its glorious night, the couple will be blessed with eternal love. That sounded cringe but I didn't oppose the King.

"My Lady, you are back," Sir Recto greeted.

"I would like to talk with his highness," I seriously said and didn't even bother looking at his face and knowing what expression he has, for sure I know that Hendrix told everyone not to allow me to meet him.

"The young master is in his office, my lady."

Napatigil ako ng marinig ko ang sinabi niya. I looked around and met his gaze to know if what I heard was true. The majordomo seems distressed which made my eyebrows arched. I was supposed to open my mouth when a figure entered the room.

"Joaquin, where have you been? He's not supposed to be left unsupervised," Sir Recto said to the newly arrived personal assistant of Hendrix.

"He is with me," I said. Napamaang si Joaquin sa sinabi ko, subalit hindi natinag ang aking ekspresyon na siyang nararamdaman niya kung gaano katindi. "What is happening to his highness?"

Tila walang balak sumagot sa tanong ko dahil umabot ng ilang segundo at wala pa rin bumasag ng katahimikan. I lost my patience and marched my way towards the direction of his office and forcibly opened the door.

My body immediately froze when a glass of wine flowed beside me and broke when it hit the wall. Hawak ko pa rin ang doorknob at para akong tinakasan ng kaluluwa dahil kung hindi tama ang pagpasok ko ay malamang ako ang natamaan.

"Hendrix!" hestirikal na bigkas ng majordomo at agad siyang pumasok para awatin ang binata sa akma nitong paghagis muli ng panibagong baso. "Joaquin, his sleeping pill!"

Agad kumilos si Joaquin at pumunta sa isang drawer at may kinuha roon, habang nanatili lamang akong nakatayo sa may pintuan. This is the first time that I witnessed his extreme nature. The entire place is messy, the furniture is turned upside down, and even the bottles of wine were shattered on the floor.

Joaquin injected something on him that made his movement slow and eventually, he collapsed on the arms of the majordomo. Hingal na hingal ang personal assistant nito pagkatapos awatin ang nagwala niyang amo.

"Is this frequent?" I am finally able to speak. Sabay silang napatingin sa akin. Wala na naman nagsalita kaya't inulit ko. "I asked, is this frequent?"

"Only when he is left alone for more than two hours. He is claustrophobic and Nyctophobic," Sir Recto replied as he settled the Prince on an L-shaped sofa. "Joaquin, tell the chamberlains to ready him a bath and his chamber. He might catch a cold after this."

Agad na sumunod si Joaquin sa utos at umalis. Dahan-dahan naman akong lumapit sa gawi nila habang pinagmamasdan ang walang malay na Prinsipe.

"He was drinking..." mahinang sabi ko.

"Yes, my lady. If he is left unsupervised for more than two hours, his temper will rise. He'll be unstable, itchy and ill-tempered, then he tends to become violent as a last resort."

Hendrix's face is troubled, like he is having a bad dream. But despite that distressed face, his royal features remained unmatched. Thick black eyebrows accompanied with long curly eyelashes. A pointed nose, with refined jaw, and flawless skin. He is like a god, sleeping in the mortal realm.

May namumuong mga pawis sa kanyang katawan, kaya't agad akong naalarma at kinuha ang panyo sa aking bulsa at pinunas 'yon sa kanya. I know my action left the majordomo in shock and confusion, but my true intentions were filled with worry.

"By seeing this state, are you still willing to marry him?" the majordomo asked. "I didn't mean to threaten you, my lady. But, his highness bears heavy troubles that even he cannot control. It will only give you a burden."

"I am prepared to carry his burden," saad ko habang nakatingin sa kanyang natutulog na mukha. "He will not be alone anymore, Sir Recto."

Kasama ako sa mga nag-alaga sa kanya buong gabi. Ramdam ko ang mga tingin sa akin ng mga katulong at narinig ko ang ilan sa kanilang mga usapan, subalit isinawalang bahala ko 'yon.

His fever went up all night. That's why I wasn't able to get enough sleep. Pero nagulat lang din ako ng magising ako kinabukasan na may nakayakap na kumot sa akin at wala na si Hendrix sa kama niya.

Hinahanap ko sila pagkatapos kong magpalit ng damit, subalit si Joaquin lang ang nakita ko.

"His highness?" tanong ko sa kanya ng makapalit ako. "Did his fever subsided? Is he in the mood to talk about the process of our marriage?"

Nanatiling nakatingin sa akin si Joaquin na parang pinagmasdan niya kung mag-iiba pa ang ekspresyon ko o kung ano man ang nasa mukha ko. Kalaunan ay ngumiti siya na parang may sarili siyang mundo.

"I apologize if I didn't introduce myself to you the day you arrived, my lady. And it seems like my introduction is already late since you already know my name. But, I would like to inform you about my status in this household," he said and greeted me with a bow and returned his posture back to normal. "I usually take care of his highness and all his affiliations, but it looks like I won't be needed anymore."

Gusto kong matawa. "You are still his assistant, Joaquin. Your presence and knowledge about his situation is needed, and I am only his future wife. I still have no authority over the house."

"Well then, it made our status a little clearer now, my lady," he said and excused himself.

Not for long, Joaquin.

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